How to Remove the Plus Sign Printed on PDF Form Fields
Question details
The user needs to remove a black square with a white plus sign that appears on PDF form fields when printed.
- Product
- PDF Editor
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Printing a filled-out PDF form document
- Observed behavior
- A plus sign appears in a black square on printed PDF form fields, indicating that the entered text exceeds the boundaries of the field.
Ensure your PDF editor is not in read-only mode and that you have permission to edit the form fields before making adjustments.
Increase the Form Field Size or Adjust Font Settings
The most common reason for the plus sign is that the text doesn't fit within the field box. Enlarging the box or setting the font to scale automatically resolves this.
PDF readers use the plus sign as an overflow indicator to warn you that some typed content is hidden because the text box is too small. Adjusting the physical dimensions of the field or changing the font size will remove the warning.
Open your PDF in your PDF editor and select the 'Prepare Form' or 'Edit Form' tool from the tools menu.
Click on the affected form field and drag the sizing handles to make the box wider or taller to accommodate the text.
Alternatively, right-click the field, go to 'Properties', and under the 'Appearance' tab, set the Font Size to 'Auto' so text automatically shrinks to fit the box.
Disable the Multiline Setting in Field Properties
If a field is set to allow multiple lines but is physically too short to display them, the plus sign will appear. Disabling multiline restricts text to a single line.
Easily Manage and Edit PDF Forms with WPS Office
WPS Office provides powerful PDF editing tools that allow you to seamlessly adjust form fields, edit text, and print documents without annoying formatting errors.
- 1. Open the PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open your PDF form containing the overflowing text.
- 2. Access the Form Tools: Navigate to the 'Form' tab in the top ribbon to enter form editing mode.
- 3. Adjust the Field: Select the form field displaying the plus sign and resize it, or adjust the text properties so the content fits completely.
- 4. Print the Document: Go to 'Menu' > 'Print' and preview the document to ensure the plus sign is no longer visible on the output.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the plus sign only show up when printing and not on the screen?
The plus sign is an overflow indicator added by PDF readers to warn that text is cut off. Depending on your display settings, it might be hidden on-screen but is enforced during the printing process to prevent accidental data loss.
Will setting the font size to 'Auto' solve the issue entirely?
Yes, setting the font size to 'Auto' dynamically scales the text down as you type more characters, ensuring it always fits within the field boundaries without triggering the overflow plus sign.
Can I hide the plus sign without editing the form fields?
No, if you don't have permission to edit the form design, you cannot remove the plus sign. You will need to either shorten your input text so it fits or ask the form creator to enlarge the field.
What if the plus sign appears on a printed PDF that doesn't have form fields?
If the document doesn't contain interactive form fields, the plus sign might be an artifact from a flattened layer or an image rendering issue. Try printing the document as an image via your printer's 'Advanced' settings dialog.
